Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Insco Lab

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Insco Lab

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, MA

Full Time

A Post-Doctoral position is available to join the Insco Laboratory in the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist to join our team! This role offers an unusual opportunity to contribute to a new laboratory at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in a newly renovated lab space! The Insco Lab is working to find new therapies for melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, by modeling human genetics and discovering the mechanisms driving melanoma.

RNA biology basic discoveries are being rapidly translated into therapies for patients. Given the importance of RNA, RNA quality control is key. Aberrant RNAs require identification and destruction to avoid being translated into abnormal proteins that can contribute to cancer. We found that nuclear RNA surveillance is tumor suppressive in melanoma. We utilize functional in vivo zebrafish genetics paired with novel molecular techniques to study nuclear RNA surveillance in both zebrafish and human cultured cell systems. We seek to further the mechanistic understanding of RNA surveillance in cancer and to provide novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma patients.

We previously found that deficient nuclear RNA surveillance dramatically alters the immune microenvironment. This position will be focused on ascertaining the function of the tumor immune microenvironment in RNA surveillance deficient melanoma using patient samples and zebrafish modeling. This position will also be uniquely positioned to offer collaborative opportunities with experts in immunology and vaccine development within our institute.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and troubleshoot experiments involving molecular biology, zebrafish animal models, patient samples, and cell culture
• Think independently and creatively while working collaboratively on our team
• Mentor research technicians
• Maintain detailed and understandable lab notebooks
• Interpret and discuss research findings informally and in lab meetings
• Use existing computational tools to analyze complex data sets, including next generation sequencing data sets, and/or fluently and effectively collaborate with computational biologists to accomplish this
• Develop figures to depict research findings, write research and review papers, and present at scientific meetings

Qualifications

Accomplished and motivated candidates who have attained a PhD or equivalent in the biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply. Candidates with experience in immunology, zebrafish modeling, RNA biology, and/or cancer biology are encouraged to apply. Experience generating and analyzing complex datasets (e.g., bulk RNA sequencing, ribosome sequencing, single cell RNA sequencing) is desirable. Clear thinking, writing, and communication skills are a must. A record of scientific accomplishment as shown by a peer-reviewed original research paper(s) is encouraged.

For more information and to apply, please visit:
https://careers.dana-farber.org/postdoc-research-fellow-insco

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to underserved members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law